Susan Meiselas is best known for her photography, but she is much more than a lady with a camera. She’s an intellect, a humanitarian and a feminist (at least in my eyes). This accomplished artist got her big break into the photojournalism world when she followed carnival strippers around the country in the early 1970s. The resulting book, aptly named Carnival Strippers, earned Meiselas an invitation into the prestigious Magnum photography circle. She then went on to photograph social unrest in Central America. Today, however, we celebrate her early work and the women she captured.
Meiselas did not only photograph these carnival stripping adventures; she also interviewed her subjects and their clientele. In an effort that is at once feminist and academic, Meiselas sought to understand these women and their lot in life, as well as share her findings with the world. Newer editions of her book include a CD with the audio from these interviews.
What an amazing person she is!